He succeeds Dr Patrick Allen, governor general-designate, whose recent appointment led to the post of president of WIU, and hence chairman of the NCU board, becoming vacant. Allen, who has served as WIU president since 2000, will be inaugurated as governor general on February 26.

Bignall, who is currently pursuing a PhD in education at NCU, is a graduate of West Indies College, and later Andrews University in Michigan, USA, with a master's degree in education.